JoyceBerner

Joyce A. Berner passed away Sunday, June 16, 2013, in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Berner was born October 9, 1942 in Plainwell to Wayne and Louise (Mollitor) Livingston. She was a 1960 graduate of Otsego High School and had attended Western Michigan University. Joyce began her career at Kal Equip in Otsego and then stayed home to raise her three children. Later in life, she was the proud owner of Looks in Hair Design, a full service salon in Plainwell, for 20 years. Her main and most joyful purpose in life was her family. She loved being a wife, mother and grandmother. Her love of travel took her and Phil all over the world. Joyce loved her kitties and almost always had a Siamese cat. She also was an avid flower gardener with beautiful roses and other perennials. Sons, Sean and Brent, remember baking cookies with her all the time. Chocolate chip was their favorite. In 1976, Joyce nominated her mother-in-law, Catherine Berner, for the Mother of the Year Award through WAOP radio in Otsego. She submitted a letter explaining how wonderful and giving Catherine was to her family and others. She raised six children and worked full-time as a registered nurse. Catherine won the contest and Joyce went on the radio to read the letter that earned her the award. On July 21, 1962 in Kalamazoo, she married Philip Berner. They were long-time residents of Otsego, having lived for 50 years across the street from Leighton's Mill Pond and currently residing in Royal Estates, Kalamazoo. In 1992, Joyce was reunited with her first son, Todd Albright. This included his wife and two daughters. She was a member of St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Otsego. In September 2011, 49 years after they first pledged their love to each other, Phil and Joyce renewed their vows at St. Margaret's Church. Surviving are her husband, Philip Berner; daughter, Laurie (Berner) and Tim Andrus; sons, Sean Berner, Brent and Merri (Germain) Berner, Todd and Loyale Albright; grandchildren, Cameron and Marissa Andrus, and Lauren Albright; special cousins, Barb and Wayne Davis; and special friends, Mary and Rick Beauchamp, Bob and Sharon Lombardini. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter, Elizabeth Albright. Friends may visit with Joyce's family from 2-4 and 6-8 PM today at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego, where the Rosary will be recited at 5:00 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Margaret's Church Wednesday at 11:00 AM, Rev. Fr. Gordon Greene celebrant. Burial will follow at Mountain Home Cemetery, Otsego. Contributions in memory of Joyce may be made to the Southwest Michigan . Joyce's family would like to thank the staffs at the Alamo Nursing Home and Borgess Medical Center for their compassionate care. Messages of condolence may be posted at

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